Moistening device for stamp-affixing machines.



L. ONDERDONK.

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR STAMP AFFIXING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. :91]. RENEWED MA'Y 10.1918.

1,289,239, Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. ONDERDONK.

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR STAMP AFFIXING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1911. RENEWED MAY 10.1918.

1,289,239, Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

SHEETS-SHEET 2- VIIIII/IIII/I/llI/l/ UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LANSING}. onnnnnonx, or new YORK, N. Y.

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Original application filed'September 28, 1910, Serial No. 584.195. Divided and this application filed November 10, 1911, Serial No. 659,620. Renewed May 10, 1918. Serial No. 238,784.

To (IN whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. LANSING ONDERDONK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Moistening Devices for Stamp-Aflixing Machines, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to machines for af fixing stamps or other articles having an adhesive surface, and has particular reference to mechanism for moistening the adhesive surface of such articles, or applying adhesive substance to such surface. In order that my invention may be readily comprehended, and in order to illustrate a concrete example of its application, I have shown the same in connection with a stampaflixing machine made the subject of my application filed September 28, 1910, Serial No. 584,195, of which this application is a division.

Among the objects of my invention may be noted the following: to provide a moistening-device which will be effective, cheap and simple and which will not waste the liquid to be applied to the article; to provide a measuring-device which will deliver a small and predetern'iined amount of liquid to the moistening-device and operate to prevent an excess of liquid being introduced into the chamber in which the moistening-device operates: to provide an automatic means for filling the moistening-chamber, keeping it properly filled, and preventing it from overflowing; to provide means for removing the moistening-device from cooperative relation with the article when desired; to provide means whereby the moi'stening-device may be removed, at the will of the operator,

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I .have provided drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective. view of the reservoir and strip-guide carried thereby;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the ma chine on the line 22 of Fig. 4, parts being broken away to illustrate certain details;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in rear of the feeding-drum with a view to showing certain details of construction;

Fig. 4 is avertical, central section of a stamp-affixing machine showing the application of my invention thereto; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower portion of said machine and is intended to show the means by which the reservoir may be depressed.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 4, the

numeral 1 indicates the plunger of the machine, which,'at its lower end, carries the head 2, provided with the cutter 3, cooperating with a ledger-blade 3 at the base of the slot 3 of the face-plate 3, said plunger being normally held elevated by spring 4, encircling the plunger, and the lower end of which rests upon the hub 5 of the frame and the upper end of which engages the handle 6, the plunger being tapped into said handle and the latter at its lower end sliding freely on the sleeve 7, screwed upon the hub 55. The frame consists of the two parts 8 and 9, which are similar in construction and are held together at the hub 5 by means of the pin or screw 10. The frame-portions 8 and 9 are formed so as to provide the receptacle 11, for the reel of articles to be delivered from the machine, in the instance shown in Fig. 4 being a reel 12 of stamps. The receptacle 11 is closed by a cover 13, hinged at 11 to the receptacle, and at its other end, and on its inner side, being provided with a spring-catch 15, the pin 16 of which enters a recess corresp0nding thereto in the adjacent portion of the receptacle. A key-hole slot 17 is provided into which a suitable key may be entered for the purpose of releasing the cover by raising the spring-catch. The feed-roller 18 is journaled in the frame-portions 8 and 9, in the bearings at 19, said feed-roller having series of spring-controlled feed-pins 20. The details of the parts just described are not entered into fully because they form no part of the present invention and are fully described in my aforesaid application.

My moistening-device consists of the frame 21, in which is formed the reservoir 22, the said frame being approximately a right-angle triangle in general outline. For

cleaning out and gaining access to the measmeasuring-device is provided in its surface with a V-shaped recess 29, which normally faces the reservoir 22 and receives therefrom the liquid contained therein, the recess extending longitudinally of the cylinder 27. In the forward end of the frame, which is narrowed as shown at 30, a chamber 31 is provided, the measuring-device or valve operating to transfer liquid from the reservoir 22 to the said chamber and from the latter to the reservoir. Journaled in the upper part of the narrowed frame-portion 30 is a shaft 32, which carries a series of moistening-wheels or pads 33, the same projecting through apertures in the top of said nar rowed frame-portion. The shaft 32 also carries outside the reservoir-frame a pinion 34, which meshes with a pinion 35, carried by the journal 28, of the valve 27. A larger pinion 34 is carried by said shaft 32, beside thepinion 34, said pinion 34 being driven by the gear 36, carried by the journal of the feed-drum 18, so that, when said gear is rotated, by the mechanism for the purpose shown in my aforesaid application, rotation is imparted to the moistening-wheels 33 and to the valve or measuring-device 27.

The reservoir is journaled at 37 in the opposite frame-portions 8 and 9, the portion of the reservoir-frame carrying the journalpin being formed into separated semi-cylindrical portions 38, between which and upon the journal-pin 37 is journaled the lever 39, having a support 40 at its forward end for the head 41, of the strip-guide 42. The rear end 43 of the lever is provided with the depending lug 44, with which engages the spring-pin 45, the stem 46 of which slides at its lower end through the plug 47, screwed into the lower end of the cylindrical projection 48, on the back of the reservoir-frame 21. A coiled-spring 49 encircles the stem 46, within the projection 48, and engages at its upper end the pin 45 and at its lower end the plug 47 said pin being thus normally held projecting beyond the upper end of the cylinder 48, and, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, normally holding the strip-guide 42 depressed and the reservoir elevated, and both in working 'cotiperative position. This is accomplished by reason 0 the end 43, engaging the cover of the receptacle, which latter acts as an abutment to cause the action of the spring-pin 45 to depress the reservoir at its rear end and elevate it at its forward end by swinging about its journal 37. The tension of the spring 49 is adjusted by the screw-plug 47. The stripguide 42 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 50, through which operate the pins 20 of the feed-drum when said pins pass through the-strip of material 12. The strip-guide 42 is secured to the support 40, by means'of the screws 51, and said guide, at its forward end, is enlarged, as at 52, to provide a support for'the stamp or other article to be moistened and delivered. The enlarged forward end 52 of the strip-guide is provided with upturned lugs 53, at its opposite sides, which prevent the article from being laterally displaced. This end of the strip-guide is also provided with rectangular apertures 54, through which the moisteningwheels protrude into engagement with the stamp or other article, when the parts are in the cobperative position shown in Fig. 4. The end 52 of the strip-guide is also provided with longitudinal ribs 55 be tween each two of the apertures 54, upon which the article normally rests, these ribs preventing the moistening-wheels from wetting the entire'surface of said article and also preventing the latter from sticking to the strip-guide, should the same be moistened before delivery from the machine and the latter allowed to stand. For brevity in this specification, the several parts of the driving means for the feeding-drum 18 are indicated by 56, these parts all forming elements of the driving and locking mechanism of my aforesaid application.

In order to depress the reservoir in the frame so as to remove the moistening-devices 33 from contact with the article when the machine is not in use, I provide a cam-lever 57, journaled at 58, to the lower rear portion of the frame-part 9, said cam-lever having the angular manipulating eXtension'59. The

reservoir is provided at its adjacent lower rear portion with a laterally-projecting pin 60, operating in the open-end slot 61, of the frame-portion 9. When the lever 57 is depressed so that its cam-portion 62 will engage the front side of the pin 60, the reservoir will be moved around its pivot 37 into the dotted-line position a, in Fig. 5. To permit such movement, the reservoir, at its forward end 30 and on its bottom surface, is made much higher or inclined vertically, as at 63, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Fig. 4. Fig. 1 also shows this formation of the bottom of the forward end of the reservoir. The reservoir is filled through the opening at its top, which is closed by the screw-plug (H. The screws 14 and 37 and the holding-screws for the ledger-blade also hold the two fran'ic-parts together.

Havingthus described the details of my invention, the following mode of operation will be readily understood: For every reciprocation of the plunger 1, the feed-drum 18 will be given a quarter turn so as to feed one article forward which has previously been moistened by the wheels 33, the cutter 3 severing the article from the web and the head 2 pressing the same upon the thing to which it is desired to affix the article.

Every quarter turn of the feed-drum imparts to the moistening-wheels a propor- I drag on the stamps as they are fed. This is an important feature of my invention since, if the moisteniug-wheels were to have a surface speed less than that of the feed-drum,

there would be a constant tendency of the' moistener to retard the delivery of the stamps, resulting in creasing or crimping the stamps objectionably and interfering materially with the proper feed of the machine. For every sen'ii-rotation of the moistening-wheels, the measuring-device has its valve-chamber turned from the reservoir into the chamber 31, or from the latter into the reservoir, thus causing a predetermined amount of liquid to be transferred first from the reservoir to the chamber and then from the chamber back to the reservoir, thus enabling the volume of liquid in the chamber to be reduced, in the event the chamber is full, during a certain operation of the valve. Hence. liquid is transferred into and out of the chamber, as well as into and out of the reservoir. Moreover, it will be understood that thc moistening pad or pads lo cated in the chamber absorbs moisture from the chamber and applies it to the stamp, thus proportionally using up the supply of liq uid transferred from the reservoir to the chamber, this being due to the consonant and proportional operation of the pad and the measuring device. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring-pin 45 maintain the reservoir with its moistening- \vhe l up to its work and maintains the for ward end of the strip-guide 42 in its lowerposition in cooperation with said Thus the articles in web form, as

they are led from the reel between the stripguide and the feeding-drum. are directed positively and surely into contact with the moistening-devices, which engage the same at three separated points. By supporting the web or article at separated points. the moisteniug-device will apply its liquid at separated points. thus leaving the article dry or free from moisture at the points of support. The supports also maintain the stamp or article from contact with the stripguide, thus preventing the article, after it has been moistened, from adhering in any way, or at any time, to said strip-guide. This is also an important feature, since it prevents the machine from becoming clogged after standing for any length of time. The stripper-plate 65, secured to the face-plate 3, operates to prevent the article from being lifted by the feed-drum and to hold said article down in cooperation with the moistening-wheels. If it is desired to open the receptacle 11 for any purpose, it may be done by inserting a key in the hole 17, to release the spring-catch 15, and, as the end 43 of the strip-guide lever is concentric with the receptacle and cover, said cover can be swung around its pivot 14 without hindrance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A moistening device for stamp atfixing machines comprising a rotary pad; a chamber in which the pad operates; means by which liquid may be fed into the chamber; means connecting the pad and liquid feeding means for ]0i11i3 operation; and means for intermittently actuating the connectmg means to cause the liquid to be supplied into the chamber in measured quan tity during and correspondingly with the operation of the pad.

2. A moistening device for stamp affixing machines comprising a reservoir partitioned to have a small chamber; a rotary moistening device journalcd so as to project into and out of said chan'iber; means for actuating said device; a measuring device constituting said partition; and means for actuating the measuring device for feeding a measured quantity of liquid to the chamber.

3. A moistening device for stamp attixing machines comprising a reservoir partitioned to provide .an independent chamber at the front thereof; a moistening device extending into said chamber; means for actuating the moistening device; and positive means located in said partition for feeding liquid from the reservoir to the chamber during the operation of the moistening device, and for preventing more than a predetermined amount of said liquid being passed from the reservoir to the chamber.

4. A moistening device for stamp aflixing to provide an independent chamber at the front thereof; a moistenlng device, In the chamber: means for actuating'the moistening device: and means located in said partition for feeding liquid into and out of the chamber and reservoir during the operation of the moistening device'so as to keepnp a predetermined supply and prevent an excess of liquid in said chamber.

A moistening device for stamp affixing machines comprising'a reservoir partitioned to provide an independent .chamber at the front thereof; a moistening device in the chamber: means for actuating the moistening device; and an automatically" operating measuring device located, in the partition between the reservoir and the chamber for feeding a predetermined amount of liquid to the latter d'uringthe operation of the .moistening device.

6. A moistening device for stamp. afiixmg maclnnes comprislng a reservoir partitioned to provide a chamber; a moistening device in the chamber; means for actuating the moistening device; and an automatically operating rotary measuring device in the partition between the reservoir and chamber for feeding liquid to the latterduring the operation of the moistening device.

7. A moistening device for stamp affixing machines comprising a reservoir partitioned to provide a chamber; liquid feeding means in the partition between the reservoir and chamber; a rotary moistening device journaled so as to project into said chamber; and coacting meansfor proportionally actuating the liquid feeding means and said moistening device.

8. A moistening device for stamp afiixing machines comprising a reservoir partitioned I to provide an independent chamber at the front thereof; and means in the partition between the reservoir and chamber for automatically maintaining the liquid in the chamber at a predetermined height regardless of the liquidin the reservoir.

9. A moistening device for stamp affixing machines comprising a reservoir having its upper surface formed with a concavity; moistening means arranged in the forward end of said reservoir in advance of said concavity; means, arranged in said concavity for feeding the articles to'the moistening means; an article support, arranged in ad- .moistening means, provided with means to engage the article at separated points, whereby moisture will be applied to the ar-- ticle at separated points and the article cannot adhere to anything within the machine.

10. A moistening device for stamp aflixing machines having, in combination, a supporting frame through which a stamp may be moved; a moistening device including a reservoir pivotally supported on the frame; and means for moving the moistening device to a position out of engagement with the stamp.

11, A moistening device for stamp affixing machines having, in combination, a supporting frame; a reservoir mounted on the frame; a moistening device mounted upon the reservoir; and means for yieldingly holding the reservoir and moistening device in cooperative relation to the frame.

12. In combination, a supporting frame; a reservoir mounted on the frame; moistening means supported by the reservoir; a strip guide for stamps pivotally mounted on the reservoir; said gulde being provided with longitudinal supports above the moistening means to hold the stamps from engagement Withthe moistening means at certain points.

13. In combination, a supporting frame; a moistening device movable on the frame; a strip guide movable relatively to the frame and moistening device; and means whereby the moistening device may be moved from cooperative relation with the guide and for holding the guide in cooperative relation to the frame.

14. In combination, a supporting frame; a reservoir mounted on the frame; moistening means on said reservoir; an article support arranged between the moistening means and supporting frame, said support being provided with apertures through which the moistening means projects to engage the article; and means whereby the support may be shifted to lift the articles from the moistening means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LANSING ONDERDONK.

Witnesses:

CHAS. MCC. CHAPMAN, M. HERsKovrrz. 

